OpGen Group Company Ares Genetics Commercially Launches NGS-based Antibiotic Resistance Testing Service for Native Specimens ...
12 November 2020 - 11:30PM
OpGen, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPGN, “OpGen”), announced today that its group
company and wholly owned subsidiary Ares Genetics GmbH (Vienna,
Austria; “Ares Genetics”) launched an early access program for its
novel, NGS-based molecular antibiotic resistance (AMR) test for
comprehensive profiling of genetic AMR markers from native specimen
by a hybrid-capture based targeted NGS assay.
Information on genetic antibiotic resistance of
pathogens is critical for clinical practice, epidemiology and
public health purposes as well as for the development of
pharmaceutical products in the infectious disease sector. Ares
Genetics therefore has developed a molecular test for comprehensive
detection of genetic AMR markers from native specimen. It is an
expanded version of the award-winning ARESupa Universal Pathogenome
Assay that was initially launched in 2019 for the identification of
pathogens and AMR genes from bacterial isolates and shown to also
accurately predict antibiotic susceptibility in a multi-center U.S.
study earlier this year.
The new version of the ARESupa, which for the
time being is available for Research Use Only (RUO), combines
hybrid-capture NGS technology for targeted detection of AMR markers
and is designed for use with complex native specimen and has
already been applied to various clinical and environmental sample
material. The design of the assay and NGS capture probes is based
on Ares Genetics’ proprietary ARESdb, a unique reference database
on genetic antimicrobial resistance markers. The ARESupa for
complex native specimen combines targeted NGS with data analysis
and interpretation powered by ARESdb. Ares Genetics’ reference
database covers genomes of more than 55,000 bacterial strains as
well as associated susceptibility data for more than 100 different
antibiotics and enables translation of detected AMR genes into
actionable insights. Already today, Ares Genetics has received
commercial orders for hundreds of the novel ARESupa tests,
exceeding a bulk order volume of US$ 250,000. We believe these
initial orders demonstrate the need for universal AMR profiling of
native samples.
“The commercial launch of our Universal
Pathogenome Assay for native specimen adds another great milestone
in our fight against spreading antibiotic resistance, one of the
most challenging threats to modern healthcare globally,” commented
Dr. Andreas Posch, CEO Ares Genetics. “We are very pleased with our
continued commercial progress facilitated by our R&D
achievements, executing on our strategy to provide scalable
laboratory testing solutions in combination with AI-powered
cloud-based data interpretation to enable accurate molecular
antibiotic resistance testing,” he added.
About OpGen, Inc.
OpGen, Inc. (Gaithersburg, MD, USA) is a
precision medicine company harnessing the power of molecular
diagnostics and bioinformatics to help combat infectious disease.
Along with subsidiaries, Curetis GmbH and Ares Genetics GmbH, we
are developing and commercializing molecular microbiology solutions
helping to guide clinicians with more rapid and actionable
information about life threatening infections to improve patient
outcomes, and decrease the spread of infections caused by
multidrug-resistant microorganisms, or MDROs. OpGen’s product
portfolio includes Unyvero, Acuitas AMR Gene Panel and Acuitas®
Lighthouse, and the ARES Technology Platform including ARESdb,
using NGS technology and AI-powered bioinformatics solutions for
antibiotic response prediction.
For more information, please visit
www.opgen.com.
Forward-Looking Statements by
OpGen
This press release includes statements regarding
the launch of an early access program next-generation sequencing
based antibiotic resistance testing from complex native specimen by
OpGen’s subsidiary Ares Genetics GmbH for research use only. These
statements and other statements regarding OpGen’s future plans and
goals constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to qualify for the
safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond
our control, and which may cause results to differ materially from
expectations. Factors that could cause our results to differ
materially from those described include, but are not limited to,
our ability to successfully, timely and cost-effectively develop,
seek and obtain regulatory clearance for and commercialize our
product and services offerings, the rate of adoption of our
products and services by hospitals and other healthcare providers,
the realization of expected benefits of our business combination
transaction with Curetis GmbH, the success of our commercialization
efforts, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operations,
financial results, and commercialization efforts as well as on
capital markets and general economic conditions, the effect on our
business of existing and new regulatory requirements, and other
economic and competitive factors. For a discussion of the most
significant risks and uncertainties associated with OpGen's
business, please review our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements, which are based on our
expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as
of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to
publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
OpGen Contact: Oliver Schacht CEO
InvestorRelations@opgen.com
Press Contact: Matthew Bretzius
FischTank Marketing and PR matt@fischtankpr.com
Investor Contact: Megan Paul
Edison Group mpaul@edisongroup.com
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